Before summer comes to a close, I like to make the most of seasonal produce and flavors that just aren’t as fresh the rest of the year. The perfect way I’ve found to beat the heat is by indulging in a nice cold popsicle. I found this Honeydew-Lime Pop recipe on Bon Appetit and thought it would be a fun activity for you and the whole family. I also enjoyed this recent article from Vogue about ice pops and their evolution. I’m excited to enjoy these next few weeks of summer with my family and indulge a bit with these refreshing icy pops!

Ingredients

4 cups 1″ cubes peeled honeydew melon

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup mild honey

1/4 cup sugar

Preparation

Purée all ingredients and 1/4 cup water in a food processor until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a medium pitcher; strain, pressing on solids to extract purée. Divide among molds. Cover; insert ice-pop sticks. Freeze until firm. Dip bottoms of molds into hot water for 20-30 seconds to loosen pops. Remove pops from molds and serve.

How easy does that sound? Do you have any favorite popsicle flavor combinations I should try?

I love the look of this red, white and “blue” Blackberry Salad, don’t you? I found this easy Bon Appetit recipe through one of my new favorite sites, SousStyle, and thought it would be perfect for our upcoming Fourth of July festivities. I’m so looking forward to watching the local fireworks show with the family, enjoying some barbeque and trying these out!

Ingredients

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pint fresh blackberries, halved if large

Preparation

Whisk oil, herbs, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Vinaigrette can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Let return to room temperature before continuing.

Gently fold in blackberries.

Et voila! Ready to enjoy. What are some of your favorite things to do to celebrate the 4th?